The cry of a smoke alarm can be the difference between life and death in cases of fire. We all know the distinct piercing howl that signals danger, but that’s not the only sound your alarm can make. Are you kept up at night by intermittent beeping coming from your alarm system when there is clearly no smoke or fire to be found? Sure, you don’t need to gather the kids and get out of the house, but the beeping is definitely trying to tell you something.
Battery Running Low
One of the most common reasons for beeping alarms is that the battery is starting to die. At night your home is cooler, so batteries are at their weakest. This is why you may hear the beeps only at night. But whatever time of day you hear the them, though, make sure to replace the batteries as soon as possible. In addition, ensure that you are using good quality ones, as cheap batteries may not be strong enough to power the alarm.
Unwanted Interlopers
Beeping may also be a sign that there is something in your alarm that shouldn’t be there. Condensation or even insects can find their way into our life-saving devices, compromising the alarm’s effectiveness. This may create a false alarm. Eradication is as simple as vacuuming the inside of the device and ensuring the room is properly ventilated.
Time for a Replacement
Like any powered device, smoke alarms don’t last forever. In cases where the devices are well taken care of, smoke alarms need to be replaced every ten years. That beeping sound you are hearing is trying to tell you that the alarm is reaching the end of it’s lifespan and will become, if it isn’t already, faulty. The simple solution is to have your alarm replaced right away.
Smoke alarms are built to communicate through sound, so whether it’s letting out a shrill alarm or intermittent beeping, your device is trying to tell you something. Listen. Anytime an alarm is sounding, even if it is annoying, never disconnect it. This leaves you unprotected in the event of a fire. Make the fix right away, and if you need a replacement call the experts at 4 Star Electric today!